Hovertravel | Fastest Portsmouth to Isle of Wight Ferry Service Ferries to the Isle of Wight Your Fastest Ferry Link from Portsmouth (Southsea) - Isle of Wight (Ryde) Hovertravel provides the fastest Isle of Wight ferry service across the Solent and is the world's longest running and only commercial hovercraft operator in Europe. Our passenger ferry service takes you directly to the shore at Southsea or Ryde in just 10 minutes. Easy onward travel connections are available with our Hoverbus to Portsmouth, bus and train connections at Ryde plus large car parks at both terminals. Hovertravel - The 10 minute ferry link to the Isle Of Wight.

More about the Hovertravel Isle of Wight Ferry service Quick Links HOVERCRAFT SERVICE TO SANDOWN IN THE PIPELINE - Island Echo - 24hr news, 7 days a week across the Isle of Wight HOVERCRAFT SERVICE TO SANDOWN IN THE PIPELINE Published on 5th February 2015 at 19:42 0 Share on Linkedin EXCLUSIVE: Cross-Solent travel operator Hovertravel are looking to expand their service to customers by operating a new crossing to and from Sandown, Island Echo can exclusively reveal. Plans are in the pipeline to introduce a brand new passenger service between Southsea and Sandown seafront from as early as Summer this year. The new operation, which would travel past Bembridge and Culver Down, would allow holidaymakers and locals alike to travel directly to and from The Bay two days a week, with two crossings each day. The sight of a hovercraft on Sandown Beach isn’t all that unusual however – dignitaries were shuttled to Dinosaur Isle for the launch of the Visit Isle of Wight ‘Dinosaur Island’ campaign back in June 2013 (pictured + video below).

In September last year the hovercraft made another appearance in Sandown for a publicity campaign promoting Hovertravel’s Blue Card. Permission is still being sought from the Crown to use the beach as a landing pad for the service, however it hoped that the new operation will be up and running in time for the busy Summer season, which could help bring much-needed tourists into the seaside town. The revealing of the exciting plans comes following recent positive news for the town of Sandown, which includes the future demolition of the derelict former Savoy hotel and the approval of planning permission for The Grand . A new restaurant is also being built overlooking the Bay. UPDATE FRIDAY: Hovertravel have confirmed to Island Echo that they are looking at the possibility of adding Sandown as a destination from Southsea for this summer. Neil Chapman, managing director of Hovertravel, said: “Ian Ward and the Sandown Business Association contacted us last month to explore the idea of bringing our craft to Sandown during the 2015 summer season.

We always open to new ideas which might boost tourism to the Isle of Wight and we provisionally agreed the concept, subject to gaining the appropriate permissions.” The plan is for the service to operate from 14th July 2015 to 27th August 2015, every Tuesday and Thursday and to the timetable below: Depart Southsea 9:45 – Arrive Sandown 10:10 Depart Sandown 10:40 – Arrive Southsea 11:05 Depart Southsea 2:45 – Arrive Sandown 3:10 Depart Sandown 3:15 – Arrive Southsea 3:40 Neil adds: “We expect the journey to be about 25 minutes which will give passengers from Southsea up to five hours in Sandown. This service will also help passengers travelling from Sandown the opportunity to spend half-a-day in Portsmouth and we will be offering our Island resident Blue Card holders a discount fare too. The next steps are to be able to confirm all the details by the end of February with an official announcement in March, followed by some test trips in May and June.

“ Nicky Parker, chair of Sandown Business Association, said: “This new hovercraft service is a great opportunity to provide easy access from the mainland to the beach, zoo, dinosaur museum and numerous other activities and independent retailers available in Sandown.

The Business Association is happy to be supporting it and we hope this will soon become an even more frequent service.” 63-year-old Richard Jones from Grange Road in Shanklin has begun a 7-and-a-half-year priso… 16th January 2017 at 21:19 2 min read UPDATED: 3 fire appliances are attending an incident on St John’s Road in Ryde this … 16th January 2017 at 19:41 2 min read Supporting people develop skills to improve their own wellbeing is the aim of a series of … 16th January 2017 at 16:36 5 min read Ryde-based go-karting track, WightKarting, has today (Monday) announced a shake-up of the … 16th January 2017 at 15:21 2 min read The Wightlink Warriors have added Rik Mullins to the squad for 2017 as the management cont… 16th January 2017 at 14:03 3 min read The Green Party’s national co-leader and Member of Parliament, Caroline

 Lucas, is to… 16th January 2017 at 12:48 1 min read Isle of Wight Hovercraft - Visit Isle Of Wight Isle of Wight Hovercraft You are here > Travel > Isle of Wight Hovercraft Hovercraft landing at Southsea Isle of Wight Hovercraft The Isle of Wight Hovercraft is the last remaining commercial hovercraft service in the world.

It operates a regular timetable transporting passengers between Ryde and Southsea in Portsmouth, with excellent connections to both road and rail networks on either side. As the quickest way to travel from the mainland to the Isle of Wight (less than 10 minutes journey time across the Solent) the hovercraft is regularly used by visitors to the Island, as well as commuters heading to and from work. But as the only remaining service of its kind it is also classed as one of the Isle of Wight's many attractions , with many visitors hopping on board just to enjoy the unique experience! The hovercraft has a well-established history on the Isle of Wight, with the very first craft (invented by Sir Christopher Cockerell) being manufactured by East Cowes marine firm Saunders-Roe in the late 1950s. That great tradition has continued for many years with Hovertravel , who are now the world’s oldest hovercraft operator celebrating their 50th anniversary as operators of the Isle of Wight hovercraft service in 2015.

The official terminology for a hovercraft journey over the water is “flying” not “sailing”, so remember when you’ve travelled on it you can tell your family and friends you just took a 10 minute flight to the Isle of Wight! h2g2 - Hovercraft on the Isle of Wight, UK - Edited Entry To The Galaxy Earth Edition Hovercraft on the Isle of Wight, UK Content from the guide to life, the universe and everything Hovercraft on the Isle of Wight, UK Created 1 Conversation Hovercraft are amphibious vehicles which are supported by a cushion of air. Since they are lifted slightly off the terrain they're travelling on, they are able to travel over both land and water and, because of the lack of friction, they are able to travel at quite high speeds. Hovercraft should not be confused with sidewalls, which are a cross between a catamaran and a hovercraft, where pressurised air is kept between the twin hulls, elevating the vessel and reducing the drag through the water, but preventing it from travelling on land.

Early Hovercraft The first recorded design for a hovercraft-like air cushion vehicle was put forward by Swedish designer and philosopher Emmanual Swedenborg in 1716. Swedenborg soon realised that his idea, which was to be man-powered, would not work, and so abandoned it. In the mid 1870s, Sir John Thornycroft became interested in the idea of hovercraft. He built a number of model craft, yet because the internal combustion engine had not yet been invented, his idea did not have a suitable power source. Sir Christopher Cockerell In the mid 1950s Christopher Cockerell 1 , a brilliant British radio engineer who also ran a boatyard on the Norfolk Broads, began exploring the use of air lubrication to reduce hydrodynamic drag. His early experiments included a punt and a 20-knot ex-Naval launch, but he soon realised that using air-lubrication as an efficient means of transport would only work with a purpose-designed vehicle. What he needed was an air cushion to lift the craft above the water, enabling it to sail not only over the waves, but also over land.

To check his theory, Cockerell used little more than a couple of tins, an air-blower and some scales. By inserting a cat food tin into a coffee tin, and blowing a jet of air through the gap between the walls of the inner and outer tins, he demonstrated the possibility of a machine that could one day travel on a cushion of air. Christopher Cockerell had a neighbouring boat builder produce a working model hovercraft. His idea worked very well in model form, and so he decided to pursue it. At the time, it was the duty of anyone who thought of an invention that might have military potential to report it to government and so he contacted the Service Ministries. The model hovercraft flew over many Whitehall carpets in front of various government experts and was subsequently put on the secret list. Saunders-Roe, an Isle of Wight aircraft company based at East Cowes , was contacted by the National Research & Development Corporation to build a full-scale craft. Saunders-Roe and the SR.N1 In 1959, Saunders-Roe - whose company had recently been bought by Westland Aircraft - began work on the new vehicle with great enthusiasm.

The world's first hovercraft was completed two months ahead of schedule, only eight months after it was started. The Cockerell-designed research vessel Saunders Roe Nautical One (SR.N1) appeared in May at East Cowes, Isle of Wight. The first flight took place on 11 June. The press watched with astonishment as the model craft was demonstrated to them on a lawn and over a small obstacle course. After that, the full-sized machine was carried out on to the concrete slipway and was launched into the East Cowes yacht basin. This was a nervous time for the engineers because the hovercraft had never before been tried over water, but all went well and no problems were encountered. This, the first skirtless craft, could operate only in calm seas with waves of up to one and a half feet in height, and was able to negotiate obstacles of 6 to 9 inches. On 25 July, 1959, the SR.N1 crossed the channel between Calais and Dover in two hours and three minutes. It had been shipped to France especially for the occasion, 50 years to the day since Louis Bleriot made the first crossing of the Dover Strait by airplane.

In December, 1959, the Duke of Edinburgh visited Saunders-Roe at East Cowes and persuaded the chief test-pilot, Commander Peter Lamb, to allow him to take over the SR.N1's controls. He flew her so fast that he was asked to slow down a little. On examination of the craft afterwards, it was found that she had been dished in the bow due to excessive speed, damage which was never allowed to be repaired, and which was affectionately referred to as the 'Royal Dent'. Latimer-Needham After reading about Cockerell's experiments, another inventor, CH Latimer-Needham, thought about the size of the waves that hovercraft would likely encounter in the English Channel and the Atlantic. Although the SR.N1 was a success, it was plagued by slow performance and the inability to traverse even very small waves easily, due to its low hover height of only 23cm. Latimer-Needham was convinced that the way forward was to create a flexible skirt to contain the air cushion. This would let hovercraft travel during rougher weather and, in October 1961, Latimer-Needham sold his skirt patents to Westland.

The introduction of the skirt was a vital engineering breakthrough. It meant that the total depth of the air cushion beneath the solid structure was now equal to the depth of the skirt and engineers soon discovered that the obstacle clearance height was ten times greater. Apart from being subjected to wear and tear, particularly at high speed over water, skirts had few operational problems. The skirt was found to deform around waves, rocks and jetties, afterwards promptly returning to its normal inflated shape, keeping air leakage at a minimum. The SR.N1, which in its original piston-engined configuration could already make a respectable 35 knots, was now fitted with a Rolls Royce Viper jet engine which gave it an easy 50 knots. With a four foot skirt fitted around its perimeter, the craft could cope with six to seven foot waves, cross marshland with gullies up to four foot deep and traverse obstacles up to three foot six inches high. Moreover, the craft was now operating at twice its original weight, with no extra lift-power needed. The SR.N1 can now be seen in the Science Museum in London.

Other Saunders-Roe Hovercraft Other companies started building hovercraft, especially Vickers and Vosper Thornycroft, but Saunders-Roe continued to lead the way. In late 1959 it began to design the first passenger-carrying hovercraft and, by 1962, the SR.N2 had entered commercial service with a payload of 59 passengers. However, the field was moving fast and subsequent advancements in hovercraft technology quickly overtook it, so that only the one was ever built. The SR.N3 By the end of 1963, the Ministry of Technology asked for a larger version of the SR.N2 for military purposes. This was the SR.N3 and it was capable of carrying 92 fully-equipped soldiers at speeds over 70 knots. It was launched in December 1963 and was also designed to carry vehicles such as jeeps or medium-sized trucks. Again, only one was built. The IHTU, Interservice Hovercraft Trials Unit, tested the SR.N3 at their facility at HMS Daedalus near Gosport to ascertain whether hovercraft could have any military potential.

By 1974, after using the SR.N3 in a number of roles, the Ministry of Defence decided to use it as a testbed to see how vulnerable hovercraft were to under-water explosions. The SR.N3 was tethered and subjected to a series of explosions, some actually under the craft, and yet not only did it survive, but it was still capable of returning to base under its own power. The SR.N5 and SR.N6 Meanwhile, Saunders-Roe had started work on the SR.N5. This was the first hovercraft to be designed from the start to be fitted with a deep, flexible skirt. The SR.N5, known as the 'Warden' class, was almost 40ft long and 23ft wide, could carry 18 passengers and had a top speed of 66 knots. The first craft hovered in April 1964 and 14 were built. As soon as the SR.N5 appeared in service, there was a demand for hovercraft with greater carrying capacity. So, in 1964, the SR.N6 'Winchester' class was designed, essentially a SR.N5 but 10ft longer.

The first SR.N6 was launched in March 1965 and could carry 38 passengers. British Rail Hovercraft Ltd, though, were not content with this and requested an even bigger craft, so in 1972 the SR.N6 was duly stretched by a further 10ft. The passenger capacity was now 58 and, perhaps surprisingly, performance was not affected by the stretch. The last in the SRN.5/6 series was designed to be quieter, as all of Saunders-Roe's hovercraft were quite noisy 2 . By this time, in 1982, 69 SRN5/6 craft had been built, including five for the Iraqi Navy and eight for the Imperial Iranian Navy. The SR.N4 Westland had intended to follow the SR.N3 with a large craft, the SR.N4, but this was delayed until the skirts for the SR.N1 and SR.N5 had been fully developed and tested. In 1965, the project was authorised and work was started.

Despite the Saunders-Roe company merging with Vickers Supermarine in December, 1966, forming the British Hovercraft Corporation Ltd and causing Sir Christopher Cockerell's resignation, work continued and the first trials began in 1967. The SR.N4, known as the 'Mountbatten' class, was the world's largest hovercraft, capable of carrying 254 passengers and 30 cars across the channel in half an hour. It displaced 200 tons, had a top speed of 83 knots 3 and ran on aviation fuel. The SR.N4's propellers, at 21 feet in diameter, were (and still are) the largest driven propellers in the world. The SR.N4's 2.5m skirt was expected to cope with most conditions in the Channel. It underwent two hours 30 minutes of trials, covering a distance of 20 miles and reaching speeds approaching 50 knots, in winds gusting to force 6. The world's first hovercraft car ferry made its maiden flight from Dover to Boulogne on 11 June, crossing in 35 minutes.

This not only captured the public imagination, but the British government also instructed British Rail to set up a hovercraft subsidiary and introduce an Isle of Wight route prior to taking delivery of the first SR.N4 for cross-Channel services in 1968. It was soon realised that the skirt system still had not been perfected and, by 1976, the skirts were replaced. The new skirt, when inflated, raised the craft three metres into the air. The SRN.4s were also stretched by 55ft, increasing passenger accommodation to 418 and the car capacity to 60. Now displacing 300 tons, the SR.N4 was nicknamed 'Super 4'. It is the world's largest hovercraft, for which the Cowes, Isle of Wight, workcrew were awarded the 1978 Award for Innovation. After the SRN.4 The Saunders-Roe team continued to make hovercraft. The next model, the BH-7 4 was started in 1969 and was called the 'Wellington' class. Six were sold to the Imperial Iranian Navy.

In 1972, the British Hovercraft Corporation bought another Isle of Wight company, Cushioncraft, which had specialised in sidewalls. This company had been created by John Britten and Desmond Norman, who designed the very successful Islander aircraft. The latest class of hovercraft to be built were the AP1-88 in 1982. By the year 2000 over 14 had been built including tank-landing hovercraft for the American Army, some for the Canadian Coastguard and several domestic passenger models, especially for the Isle of Wight route. Domestic British Hovercraft Routes Three years after the hovercraft's invention, hovercraft passenger routes soon started to open up throughout Great Britain, but few lasted long. The main exception has been getting to the Isle of Wight , home to Saunders-Roe and other manufacturers, where machines have flourished. In August 1962, a passenger service was started from Eastney beach, Southsea (near Portsmouth ) to Ryde, Isle of Wight, on weekday mornings using the newly-built 48 seat SR.N2 craft. A new company, Hovertransport, was also formed to carry passengers on the experimental Ryde to Eastney route.

In 1965, Hovertravel Ltd . started their Southsea to Ryde service with Winchester Class, 38 seater SR.N6. This is now the world's oldest hovercraft operator. In addition, a Ryde to Stokes Bay, Gosport, service was also begun, but it closed two years later. Before it closed, though, it had carried over 500,000 passengers. During March, 1965, British Rail Hovercraft Ltd formed Seaspeed and the Southampton to Cowes service started in July with two 36 seat SR.N6 craft. In March, 1967, Seaspeed's Cowes - Portsmouth Harbour link opened using an SR.N6. The service continued before it closed in September, 1969. April, 1968, saw the inauguration of a third Seaspeed Isle of Wight service, from Portsmouth to Ryde. Considering the number of hovercraft routes to the Isle of Wight, it is not surprising that a local singer, Lauri Say, wrote and sang a popular song about them on his Songs For Singing Islanders album released in 1968: What's this rumbling that I hear?

What's this roaring in my ear? What's this racket driving everybody daft? Well it's not artillery Or the start of World War Three It's the Westland SRN 'Super-Noiseless' hovercraft. Oh the hovercraft is coming, Can't you hear that crazy humming? You can see the fishes scatter fore and aft. With it's mighty engine pushing Floating on it's own air cushion It's the Westland SRN 'Super-Noiseless' hovercraft. It's like a mobile goldfish bowl and When it screams across the Solent, The duration of your journey will be halved. If you don't mind being cramped on For your visit to Southampton Take the Westland SRN 'Super-Noiseless' hovercraft. The directors made a statement In the cause of noise abatement When we said it made a row they only laughed. 'Anyone can stand the din If he's got his earplugs in On the Westland SRN 'Super-Noiseless' hovercraft.' If this method of propulsion Fills you with revulsion You should travel on a dinghy or a raft. Whatever you may take You'll never hear the end Of the Westland SRN 'Super-Noiseless' hovercraft.

The folks who live in Cowes and Gurnard tremble by the thousand, And the peace of Ryde is shattered everyday. So if you want a place that's silent, You'd better leave the Island, You can hear the bloody thing at Totland Bay. Oh the hovercraft is coming, Can't you hear that crazy humming? You can see the fishes scatter fore and aft. With it's mighty engine pushing Floating on it's own air cushion It's the Westland SRN 'Super-Noiseless' hovercraft. Before long, though, only the Hovertravel service had survived. By 1976, Seaspeed, which had operated three services to the Isle of Wight, had transferred ownership of the Southampton - Cowes route to Hovertravel and closed soon after. After 1 October, 2000, the Southsea - Isle of Wight hovercraft route was the only remaining one in Europe. International Hovercraft Routes The prototype SR.N4, the Princess Margaret, entered commercial service for Seaspeed on the 26 mile route between Dover and Boulogne on 1 August, 1968.

This route was chosen so that customers could easily be switched to British Rail's ship ferry service if anything went wrong. Six daily return flights were advertised, the first leaving Dover at 8.20am and then every two hours. Wednesday was half-day - with three round trips followed by a period of maintenance. During November, 1967, Hoverlloyd Ltd 5 was formed with the object of pioneering the world's first international hovercraft service, between Ramsgate and Calais, although in reality it became the second. On 10 December, 1968, Hoverlloyd's first SR.N4, the Swift, was completed at East Cowes. It was the first craft with the new Mk II skirt which provided a smoother ride, more protection to the bow and 30 minutes transit time. Their second craft, Sure, was launched in 1969. Hoverspeed was created on 25 October, 1981, when Seaspeed and Hoverlloyd merged.

Initially the new company operated a fleet of six hovercraft - two SRN4 MkIII hovercraft, The Princess Margaret and The Princess Anne and four SRN4 MkII hovercraft, Swift, Sure, Sir Christopher and The Prince of Wales, on services from Dover to both Calais and Boulogne. Sadly, however, they have been gradually replaced by Sea Cats. By 2000, only The Princess Margaret and The Princess Anne were still in operation, yet both have a claim to fame. The Princess Anne holds the record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel, travelling the 23 miles between Calais and Dover on 14 September, 1995, in just 22 minutes. The Princess Margaret featured in the James Bond film Diamonds are Forever. However, both hovercraft were withdrawn from service on 1 October, 2000, leaving the Southsea - Ryde, Isle of Wight route the only remaining hovercraft route in Europe, not far from where the hovercraft was invented. 1 Later knighted to become Sir Christopher Cockerell. 2 Residents of the Isle of Wight soon joked that 'SRN' stood for 'Super-Noiseless'.

3 83 knots is equivalent to 96mph. 4 The name altered from 'SR' to 'BH' because after 1966, Saunders-Roe became the British Hovercraft Corporation, thus BH-7 stood for British Hovercraft Seven. 5 Hoverlloyd Ltd was a Swedish company jointly owned by Swedish Lloyd and the Swedish American Line. Travel - Getting to and around the Isle of Wight - Service Details Travel - Getting to and around the Isle of Wight Commuting Commuting Whilst the majority of residents choose to find employment here on the Island, others prefer to commute on a daily or weekly basis to mainland-based occupations. Alternatively, some mainland residents commute to the Island for work. Located just off the south coast of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight is separated from the rest of the UK mainland by a stretch of water called The Solent. Consequently the predominant form of transport to and from the Island is by boat, with the distance across the water varying from four to six miles.

Regular car ferry services depart from: Fishbourne to Portsmouth (40 minutes crossing time) East Cowes to Southampton (55 minutes crossing time) Yarmouth to Lymington (30 minutes crossing time) Foot passengers also have the choice of using the Hovercraft Service between Ryde Esplande and Southsea (10 minutes crossing time) or two hi-speed catamaran services; the Fast Cat from Ryde Pier Head to Portsmouth Harbour (18 minutes crossing time) the Red Jet from West Cowes to Southampton (23 minutes crossing time) The hi-speed services are a popular choice for commuters to the mainland as they provide a direct link to South West Trains railway services from both Portsmouth and Southampton, connecting them with frequent mainland work destinations including Winchester, Bournemouth, Basingstoke, Guildford and London. The Island's ferries are operated by three companies; Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel. For commuters to the Isle of Wight, Island Line operates on an 8½ mile stretch of track from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin down the eastern side of the Island.

There is also a steam operated heritage railway, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, which connects with Island Line at Smallbrook Junction, near Ryde. The Island's bus routes are serviced by Southern Vectis which connect all the Island's major towns. Resident Services Portsmouth to Isle of Wight hovercraft services to resume - The News Portsmouth to Isle of Wight hovercraft services to resume OUT OF ACTION Solent Express on its approach to Southsea Priya Mistry HOVERCRAFT services are running again between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. It comes after Hovertravel was forced to stop services over the weekend because of a craft fault. But yesterday one craft was back out at sea, with the first vessel leaving Ryde at 3.15pm and setting off from Southsea at 3.30pm. Neil Chapman, managing director of Hovertravel, said: ‘The safety of our passengers, staff and vessels is of paramount importance to us. ‘Hovertravel has operated for many decades with an outstanding safety record and clearly puts safety as the number one priority.

‘I know the decision to suspend our services completely has caused significant inconvenience to all of our customers and I can only apologise to them personally for that disruption.’ The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) had suspended two craft – Freedom 90 and Island Express – because of safety concerns on Friday. The propeller of the third and newest craft, the Solent Express, snapped off on October 30, which prompted the inspection to ensure all craft were safe. But services can now be resumed as the vessels comply with the MCA’s regulations. A temporary revised timetable using one craft is in place until the second hovercraft has its propellers refitted. ‘There was no question of us operating until both the company and our regulatory authority, the MCA, were completely satisfied with our safety compliance,’ added Mr Chapman. ‘I would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their patience and all of our staff, who have worked tirelessly throughout the weekend, to manage this difficult situation and enable operations to resume. ‘I would also like to thank Wightlink for their help in meeting the extra demand on their services.’ Hovertravel operates the world’s longest-running commercial service.

The company was established in 1965, and since then more than 26m people have used it. It is also the only scheduled passenger hovercraft service in Europe and is the fastest way to travel across the Solent – with the journey time being less than 10 minutes. To get journey timetables go to hovertravel.co.uk. Ryde tourist and travel information | Ryde accommodation, attractions and photos | Isle of Wight UK Ryde tourist and travel information Ryde Travel Information Ryde is the second largest town on the Isle of Wight. Located on the north east coast of the Island, enjoying views across the Solent towards Portsmouth and the shipping lanes, Ryde has miles of golden sands. The town is the gateway to the eastern isle, with the Fast Ferry Link, Hovercraft and car ferry which comes into Fishbourne, just to the west of Ryde. From Ryde you can catch a bus to the Islands principal towns or take the train through to Brading, Lake, Sandown and Shanklin.

TRAVELLINE at Ryde - Travel by coach - If you'd like to speak to someone about your journey you can ring Traveline on 0871 200 22 33. Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries operates a round-the-clock service between the English mainland and the Isle of Wight. We run every day of the year on three routes across the Solent and sail up to 230 times a day. Portsmouth to Fishbourne takes approximately 40 minutes; Lymington to Yarmouth 30 minutes (both car ferries), and Portsmouth to Ryde around 18 minutes (FastCat foot passenger catamaran). Red Funnel operates a car and passenger service between Southampton and East Cowes. High speed passenger-only services to Southampton operate from "West" Cowes under the name of "Red Jet". Hovertravel carries passengers between Southsea and Ryde aboard a hovercraft. Ryde on the Isle of Wight - Travel by road - Ryde is on the A 3054, located at the ferry terminal at Ryde.

Ryde - Travel by train - Ryde St Johns Road Station, Island Line Ltd, Ryde, PO33 2BA. Ryde Esplanade Station, Railway Station, The Esplanade, Ryde, PO33 2HE. Ryde Pier Head Station, Ryde Pier Head, Isle of Wight, PO33 2HF. Island Line, Isle of Wight. Main Stations: Ryde, Brading, Sandown, Lake, Shanklin. Island Line operate a single line from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin down the eastern side of the island. Tel: 01983 812 591. Ryde Tourist Information Ryde - Sport - Located on the north east coast of the Island, enjoying views across the Solent towards Portsmouth and the shipping lanes, Ryde has miles of golden sands. The Esplanade has a marina, beautiful gardens and activities for all the family, a bowling green, children's amusement park, ice rink, tenpin bowling, nightclub, boating lake, and swimming pool with retractable roof. ICE SKATING.

PLANET ICE ISLE OF WIGHT, Quay Road, Esplanade, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 2HH. Tel: 01983 615155. Ryde Golf Club, Binstead Rd, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 3NF Tel: 01983 614809. Ryde - Shopping - The shops are located in The High Street and Union Street. Ryde - Entertainment and attractions - THE ISLE OF WIGHT STEAM RAILWAY. The railway runs 5 miles from Wootton, through Havenstreet and Ashey, to Smallbrook Junction, which is the interchange with Island Line's electric trains that run from Shanklin to Ryde Pier Head (Connecting with the Wightlink high-speed catamaran service from Portsmouth Harbour). Ryde - Other information - Puckpool Park Wireless Museum, Seaview, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO34 5AR. Tel: 01983 567665.

Robin Hill Country Adventure Park, Robin Hill, Downend, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2NU. Hovertravel | About Hovertravel About Hovertravel Working in the Community About Hovertravel Hovertravel is the world’s longest running commercial hovercraft service and is the only scheduled passenger hovercraft service in the Europe. Hovertravel offers the fastest way to cross the Solent between Southsea, Portsmouth and Ryde, Isle of Wight. Hovertravel operate two hovercraft with a frequent service (plus additional services at commuter times) and the journey time is just under 10 minutes. The hovercraft is a tourist attraction in its own right. Hovertravel was established in 1965 and over 29 million passengers have travelled on the service. The advantage of the hovercraft is that they can travel at extremely low tides. If it hadn't been for the tides, Hovertravel might never have existed. The low tides at Ryde, take the sea out far beyond the town's esplanade, and it has always been impossible for any ship to berth anywhere near roads or bus routes.

Until 1965, the only passenger ferries from Portsmouth stopped at the end of Ryde’s third of a mile long pier. Ferries that travel only in water still have to use the end of the pier today. But Hovertravel seized on the hovercraft's ability to travel across both water and land and launched their service in 1965. No matter what the tide was doing, passengers could embark and disembark in exactly the right place, with no need to trundle up and down the pier as an additional requirement of their journey. For 50 years, the Hovercraft has been the fastest and most convenient way to cross the Solent, and Hovertravel is proud that it continues to provide its customers with this unique service. Whether it is carrying commuters and school children between Ryde and Southsea, enabling those who live on the Isle of Wight to shop in Portsmouth, access medical facilities, travel to London, carry tourists to the Isle of Wight, or transport concert-goers to the famous Isle of Wight Festival, the hovercraft is the fastest way to travel across the Solent, going directly from shore to shore.

Hovertravel provides a ‘Hoverbus’ service which connects with the Hovercraft at Southsea and conveniently takes passengers to and from Portsmouth Harbour, The Hard & Portsmouth & Southsea Train Stations. There are also large car parks at the terminal, coach parking nearby and National Express and Lucketts coach stops opposite the terminal. Once on the Isle of Wight you will land in a prime seafront position, alongside Ryde’s splendid beaches and boutique shops, where travel links including the train link to Shanklin and buses to other parts of the Island, are next to the terminal. Hovertravel offers great value all-inclusive travel and attraction tickets to incorporate the Island's buses and trains and entrance to many superb attractions from historical manors and steam trains to adventure and animal parks. Hovertravel has two craft in its fleet: Island Express and Freedom 90, both operating every day. Astonishingly, one of the craft has travelled the equivalent distance of a return trip to the moon and holds the world record for most operated hours. Both craft have given us over 30 years service despite the harsh environment of the Solent, which involves daily immersion in salt water and dramatic changes in temperature.

2015 is a very significant year for Hovertravel - a year in which we celebrate 50 years of operation. This is a remarkable achievement which has been realised thanks to the efforts of our staff and the ongoing support of our customers. As well as celebrating our golden anniversary, by the end of this year we will see the completion of two new hovercraft for our fleet, keeping on schedule for their introduction to our service in 2016. About Your Privacy This website uses cookies to enhance the usability of the website. Cookies are small, often encrypted text files stored on your computer by the web browser, to improve your navigation/usage on the website. This website uses Cookies according to our privacy policy. Isle of Wight Ferries Isle of Wight Ferries Red Funnel Ferry Services to Cowes on the Isle of Wight Getting to the Isle of Wight is made easy by the choice of ferry, catamaran and hover travel services available. Car ferries run from Southampton, Portsmouth and Lymington on the Hampshire mainland. Alternatively you can pick up fast hovercraft and catamaran services at Southsea, Portsmouth or Southampton. Services run throughout the year and you don't even need to book on the faster foot passengers services.

Ferries cross the Solent to Isle of Wight landing at East Cowes, West Cowes, Fishbourne, Ryde and Yarmouth. Southampton to Cowes - Car Ferry & Catamaran Red Funnel Ferries run the Red Jet Hi-Speed passenger catamarans service to West Cowes. It's a foot passenger ferry service only and you don't need to book - just turn up and travel. The journey takes just 25 minutes and runs throughout the year, seven days a week. Red Funnel also run a car passenger ferry service from Southampton to East Cowes. Crossings depart hourly and take just under an hour. These are the largest ferries to the Isle of Wight and not only take foot passengers but all sizes of vehicles. Facilities on-board are extensive ranging from cafes and bars to a games area and outdoor deck. Pets and bikes travel free. Wightlink Ferries - Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight Portsmouth to Fishbourne & Ryde - Car Ferry & Catamaran Wightlink operate year round car ferry and catamaran foot passenger services from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight.

The modern catamaran service runs between Portsmouth and Ryde Pier Head with a journey time of just 20 minutes, and there are frequent crossing throughout the day. Wightlink's car ferry service between Portsmouth and Fishbourne takes just 45 minutes and operates round the clock, all year round. Car ferries are spacious which passenger lounges, an observation deck and cafe bar. Lymington to Yarmouth Car Ferry Wighlink operate the car ferry service between Lymington on the southern edge of the New Forest to Yarmouth on the west side of the Isle of Wight. This scenic crossing takes only 40 minutes, making it the fastest car ferry service across to the island. Frequent crossings run all year round from early morning to late into the evening. Hovertravel - Southsea to Ryde in just 10 minutes! Southsea, Portsmouth Hovertravel to Ryde Hovertravel run a regular service between Southsea, Portsmouth and Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Hovercraft run at least every half hour and this is the fastest route from the mainland to the island with a journey time of just 10 minutes - ideal for a day trip.

It takes foot passengers only, although you can take your bike over free of charge. Southsea Hoverport is located along Clarence Esplanade, Postcode PO5 3AD. Pay and display parking is directly opposite the Hoverport with facilities for long and short stay parking. Additional public parking is also situated around nearby Clarence Pier funfair. Cowes Chain Link Ferry The little Cowes Ferry connects East Cowes to West Cowes, and is a chain link ferry also known as the Floating Bridge. It operates every day of the year from 5am on Monday to Saturday, and 6.35am on Sundays. The ferry takes foot passengers, cars, lorries and motorcycles until around midnight. You cannot pre-book but just turn up and board. Crossings are free to foot passengers and cyclists. Tolls are applicable for vehicles and are collected on board. Isle of Wight Ferry Links Per week (seasonal) Charming historic cottage near Cowes on the Isle of Wight, family friendly with WiFi, parking and large garden. Pretty rural location, walking distance from Newton Nature Reserve.

Per room per night (based on 2 sharing) Rating from 346 reviews Friendly bed and breakfast in Cowes, Isle of Wight, with sea views. Free WiFi internet available. Great choice of freshly cooked breakfasts. Lots to see and do nearby! Rating from 346 reviews Per week (seasonal) Sleep up to 8 Rating from 1329 reviews Thorness Bay holiday park on the Isle of Wight between Cowes and Yarmouth. Indoor pool, restaurant, bar, live entertainment and direct beach access. Caravans, lodges and glamping. Rating from 1329 reviews Durley (5.1 miles from the centre of Southampton) Sleeps 4 Per week (seasonal), sleeps 4 Rating from 6 reviews This single storey barn conversion on the owner's working cattle and equestrian farm is in the village of Durley near to Southampton and sleeps four people in two bedrooms. Rating from 6 reviews Southampton (1.3 miles from the centre of Southampton) Prices from £146 Rating from 888 reviews Novotel Southampton is centrally located in Southampton, walking distance from Leisure World and close to Mayflower Theatre.

This 4-star hotel is within close proximity of WestQ... Rating from 888 reviews Southampton (0.8 miles from the centre of Southampton) Prices from Per Room (Amend up to 1pm on arrival day) Rating from 1295 reviews This Premier Inn offers spacious rooms in Southampton’s lively city centre. The on-site restaurant serves all-you-can-eat breakfasts, and the West Quay Shopping Centre is close by. Rating from 1295 reviews Old Portsmouth (1.0 miles from the centre of Portsmouth) Sleeps 8 Per week (seasonal), sleeps 8 A large Georgian home in historic Old Portsmouth with enviable views across the Solent with a private roof terrace. Four bedrooms - 3 ensuite plus family bathroom. Wi-Fi access Hilsea (2.3 miles from the centre of Portsmouth) Prices from per room per night from Rating from 138 reviews Affordable family friendly Travelodge hotel in Portsmouth, only 3.9 miles from the Royal Navy Museum with free parking, Toby Carvery, WiFi and optional breakfast box.

Rating from 138 reviews Southsea (1.3 miles from the centre of Portsmouth) Prices from £59 Rating from 296 reviews Just a 5-minute stroll from Southsea beach and 10 minutes from the South Parade Pier, Florence Suite Boutique Hotel and Restaurant provides luxury accommodation. Rating from 296 reviews Lymington (0.1 miles from the centre of Lymington) Prices from Per week (seasonal) Beautifully presented Edwardian apartment in Lymington with 3 bedrooms, 1st floor garden, parking permit & wonderful period features. Short breaks available. No pets. Lymington (3.1 miles from the centre of Lymington) Prices from Per person bed and breakfast Charming New Forest Bed & Breakfast in Sway, 10 minutes from Lymington & Brockenhurst. Families welcome, dogs allowed. Free WiFi and parking. Garden, log fire and conservatory. Sway (2.9 miles from the centre of Lymington) Prices from Per person, per night B&B Beautifully converted chapel offering 'self catering' B&B in Sway near Lymington. Charming rooms. Families welcome, ground floor accommodation.

Old Portsmouth (1.0 miles from the centre of Southsea) Sleeps 8 Per week (seasonal), sleeps 8 A large Georgian home in historic Old Portsmouth with enviable views across the Solent with a private roof terrace. Four bedrooms - 3 ensuite plus family bathroom. Wi-Fi access Southsea (0.2 miles from the centre of Southsea) Prices from £59 Rating from 296 reviews Just a 5-minute stroll from Southsea beach and 10 minutes from the South Parade Pier, Florence Suite Boutique Hotel and Restaurant provides luxury accommodation. Rating from 296 reviews Southsea (0.6 miles from the centre of Southsea) Prices from Per Room (Amend up to 1pm on arrival day) Rating from 705 reviews Premier Inn Southsea Hotel with onsite restaurant, free WiFi and parking. Ideal for short breaks and travel stopovers. Prime waterfront location with easy access to Portsmouth. Rating from 705 reviews Isle of Wight: Hovertravel planning Sandown service this summer Hovertravel planning Sandown service this summer By a County Press reporter Friday, February 6, 2015 Hovertravel is planning an Isle of Wight service to Sandown.

VISITORS heading to the Isle of Wight this summer might be able to catch a hovercraft to Sandown, if Hovertravel plans go ahead. Plans to operate a cross-Solent service from Southsea to Sandown are progressing well according to Hovertravel, which is considering the possibility of adding the route in addition to its existing Ryde and Southsea service. The plans, to operate from July 14 to August 27, every Tuesday and Thursday, were agreed in principle at a recent meeting between Hovertravel and the Sandown Partnership. Hovertravel, which has a permit to operate in Sandown Bay area, aims to start marketing the 25 minute service as early as next month, with some test trips taking place in May and June. Neil Chapman, managing director of Hovertravel, said: "We were contacted last month to explore the idea of bringing our craft to Sandown during the 2015 summer season and I was very impressed by the partnership’s proactive approach. "We are always open to new ideas that could boost tourism to the Isle of Wight and we have provisionally agreed the concept, subject to gaining the appropriate permissions from the Isle of Wight Council to use a suggested landing site.

"It has really spurred me on to make this work. Working with Sandown could be a match made in heaven." Three landing sites are being considered with a section of beach at the Avenue Slipway, near the lower end of the town, being Hovertravel’s preferred option. Ron Teasdale, chairman of the Sandown Partnership and a town councillor, said: "Hovertravel is very receptive to the idea of it as a pilot scheme. "The Sandown Business Association is up for it, as are local tourist attractions such as the Isle of Wight Zoo and Dinosaur Isle. "Everyone is keen on the idea and there are ongoing discussions about creating discounts at attractions and businesses to encourage more visitors to the town. "We are at the stage where Isle of Wight councillor for Sandown, Ian Ward, has gone back to the Isle of Wight Council to discuss the proposals. "If we can get it going, it could give Sandown a major boost." More News

Question: The hovercraft service across the Solent is between Southsea and which Isle of Wight town?
Answer: Ryde